So, Drow have sunlight sensitivity, which, quote: "You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight. (luckily this isn't passed down to their half human offspring).
What l want to know is 3 fold.
1:"disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight...." mean means that You get disadvantage on attack rolls that require you to see your target,, right? That's a large portion of attack spells, and all melee/ranged attacks. Save or suffer spells seem to be fine though.
2: "Disadvantage when: you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight." What counts as direct sunlight? Obviously being outside on a cloudless summer day, or in a area effected by the daylight spell, but what about cloudy winter days, or being inside a greenhouse, with glass between you and the sun (tinted or not), or being in the shade of a large tree, or a roof with holes in it? Also, given it's sight based, would sunglass' work to prevent it?
: WHY? Why do drow have this? I get that in the lore they lived underground for a long time, but shouldn't they get used to the sun if they're living and adventuring on the surface? Is it a biological weakness, or is it some kind of blood curse? I know the dm can just rule it away if they want, but the question stands. 5E is far more "user friendly" and "accessible" then older editions, so why is this relic still in the game?
1) it’s disadvantage on all attacks (anything involving an attack roll) if you are in sunlight, and any Wisdom (perception checks) made while you are in sunlight.
2) up to the DM, but I’d say anything less than full cloud cover would count as direct sunlight in the daytime, no matter the season. Being inside would negate the penalty, unless the DM ruled certain areas were impacted, or someone casts a spell that creates daylight
3) I assume it’s biological due to the centuries the race has spent underground, but I’m not a lore expert. Mechanically it’s probably a balancing issue
2) I'd say clear glass does not cut it, but a shady tree will.
3)I think it is a curse as well and that is JC's justification for it sticking even if you wild shape. I don't agree with that though... But yeah, when your biology is adapted to darkness, sunlight is not something you just get used to.
Yep, it applies to pretty much all attacks. Theoretically, a drow with the "blind fighting" fighting style should be able to close their eyes and make attacks against creatures within 10 feet without penalty, even while in direct sunlight. Blindsight explicitly allows you to "see" things without relying on sight.
Direct sunlight isn't an explicitly defined term, so we'd use the standard English interpretation. Standing under cloud cover or the shade of a large tree would not be considered 'direct sunlight'. Standing under the glass of a greenhouse would probably be considered direct sunlight in most interpretations, though you might be able to make an argument otherwise. My ruling is - if you could look up into the sky and directly see the sun, you're in direct sunlight. If something is entirely obscuring the sun, you are not in direct sunlight.
Note that the daylight spell is not direct sunlight - It is simply bright light. You'd need something that explicitly creates sunlight, such as dawn
Lorewise, its something deeply ingrained in their genetics from many generations of living in the underdark. Simply trying to live above ground for a few years wouldn't reverse that. There are people in the real world with intense sun allergies, and they aren't able to 'cure' it with exposure.
I won't comment on whether or not its still a good idea to have it, as that's fairly subjective. Though I don't think it has the same bad connotations as negative stat ASIs.
The way I have always run it is that by the lore, Lolth created the Drow. She ticked off Corellion and he cursed her. The Drow were driven underground. I's a powerful curse too. It has gone on for generations. So in the light (anything more than Dim Light) Drow suffer. Even if they aren't in the light, if their target is, the don't see well. There are ways to get around this. Wish, or Divine Intervention. I wouldn't let a wish spell do it, but if Corellion is willing to forgive one Drow, sure. Of course, once they do this, it's no longer a Drow, and gets none of their special abilites. It's now just a High Elf with black skin and white hair.
Kobold have it too, so I'd assume it's a result of living under ground that only some creatures end up with, rather than being a curse.
Kobold make up for it with pack tactics, but I guess Drow only get Superior Dark Vision, which doesn't really help above ground during the day but might help above ground if you can convince the party to adventure at night sometimes.
Or you can just ask the DM for the sunglasses, as long as they're strong enough. Since it only gives you disadvantage on sight based things (and you have super dark vision), I'm assuming it's just that things are too bright.
: WHY? Why do drow have this? I get that in the lore they lived underground for a long time, but shouldn't they get used to the sun if they're living and adventuring on the surface? Is it a biological weakness, or is it some kind of blood curse? I know the dm can just rule it away if they want, but the question stands. 5E is far more "user friendly" and "accessible" then older editions, so why is this relic still in the game?
I guess you don't really know much about them.
Regarding "getting used to it" blind cave fish aren't suddenly going to be able to see just by living in the sun.
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"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
That's just wrong. If it meant all attack rolls they would have written >>all<< there are numerous attack rolls that can be performed without relying on the conventional sight. E.g. the blind fighting style doesn't require you to see your target when making any attack roll, as long as you're in the right range.
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So, Drow have sunlight sensitivity, which, quote: "You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight. (luckily this isn't passed down to their half human offspring).
What l want to know is 3 fold.
1:"disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight...." mean means that You get disadvantage on attack rolls that require you to see your target,, right? That's a large portion of attack spells, and all melee/ranged attacks. Save or suffer spells seem to be fine though.
2: "Disadvantage when: you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight." What counts as direct sunlight? Obviously being outside on a cloudless summer day, or in a area effected by the daylight spell, but what about cloudy winter days, or being inside a greenhouse, with glass between you and the sun (tinted or not), or being in the shade of a large tree, or a roof with holes in it? Also, given it's sight based, would sunglass' work to prevent it?
: WHY? Why do drow have this? I get that in the lore they lived underground for a long time, but shouldn't they get used to the sun if they're living and adventuring on the surface? Is it a biological weakness, or is it some kind of blood curse? I know the dm can just rule it away if they want, but the question stands. 5E is far more "user friendly" and "accessible" then older editions, so why is this relic still in the game?
1) it’s disadvantage on all attacks (anything involving an attack roll) if you are in sunlight, and any Wisdom (perception checks) made while you are in sunlight.
2) up to the DM, but I’d say anything less than full cloud cover would count as direct sunlight in the daytime, no matter the season. Being inside would negate the penalty, unless the DM ruled certain areas were impacted, or someone casts a spell that creates daylight
3) I assume it’s biological due to the centuries the race has spent underground, but I’m not a lore expert. Mechanically it’s probably a balancing issue
Adding to what Icon said:
2) I'd say clear glass does not cut it, but a shady tree will.
3)I think it is a curse as well and that is JC's justification for it sticking even if you wild shape. I don't agree with that though... But yeah, when your biology is adapted to darkness, sunlight is not something you just get used to.
Note that the daylight spell is not direct sunlight - It is simply bright light. You'd need something that explicitly creates sunlight, such as dawn
I won't comment on whether or not its still a good idea to have it, as that's fairly subjective. Though I don't think it has the same bad connotations as negative stat ASIs.
I stand corrected.
The way I have always run it is that by the lore, Lolth created the Drow. She ticked off Corellion and he cursed her. The Drow were driven underground. I's a powerful curse too. It has gone on for generations. So in the light (anything more than Dim Light) Drow suffer. Even if they aren't in the light, if their target is, the don't see well. There are ways to get around this. Wish, or Divine Intervention. I wouldn't let a wish spell do it, but if Corellion is willing to forgive one Drow, sure. Of course, once they do this, it's no longer a Drow, and gets none of their special abilites. It's now just a High Elf with black skin and white hair.
<Insert clever signature here>
Kobold have it too, so I'd assume it's a result of living under ground that only some creatures end up with, rather than being a curse.
Kobold make up for it with pack tactics, but I guess Drow only get Superior Dark Vision, which doesn't really help above ground during the day but might help above ground if you can convince the party to adventure at night sometimes.
Or you can just ask the DM for the sunglasses, as long as they're strong enough.
Since it only gives you disadvantage on sight based things (and you have super dark vision), I'm assuming it's just that things are too bright.
There is a magic eye patch that removes sunlight sensitivity.
You could easily homebrew an uncommon version that works like a reverse goggles of night.
I guess you don't really know much about them.
Regarding "getting used to it" blind cave fish aren't suddenly going to be able to see just by living in the sun.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
That's just wrong. If it meant all attack rolls they would have written >>all<< there are numerous attack rolls that can be performed without relying on the conventional sight. E.g. the blind fighting style doesn't require you to see your target when making any attack roll, as long as you're in the right range.